Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and CalellaCost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Calella
Monthly Cost of Living
๐A single person spends $2,265 per month in Madrid vs $1,347 in Calella, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $3,314 per month in Madrid vs $2,152 in Calella, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $4,362 per month in Madrid vs $2,958 in Calella, rent included.
๐Madrid costs about 68% more than Calella, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both Madrid and Calella sit above the global median โ Madrid by 69%, Calella by 0%.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Madrid
Calella
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.39โฌ14.84
$11.36โฌ9.69
53.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5โฌ58.4
$34.65โฌ29.55
97.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.66โฌ9.95
$9.33โฌ7.96
24.97%
Cappuccino
$3.09โฌ2.64
$1.38โฌ1.18
123.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06โฌ2.61
$1.78โฌ1.51
71.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21โฌ1.89
$1.64โฌ1.40
34.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.01โฌ3.42
$3.40โฌ2.90
17.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53โฌ3.86
$2.26โฌ1.93
100.44%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Calella
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20โฌ1.03
$1.23โฌ1.05
-2.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.68โฌ1.43
$2.01โฌ1.72
-16.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72โฌ1.47
$1.59โฌ1.36
8.18%
Eggs
$3.40โฌ2.90
$2.89โฌ2.47
17.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.03โฌ12.82
$14.15โฌ12.07
6.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.78โฌ7.49
$9.21โฌ7.86
-4.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.18โฌ14.66
$17.19โฌ14.66
-0.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64โฌ2.25
$3.08โฌ2.63
-14.29%
Banana(1kg)
$2.15โฌ1.83
$2.88โฌ2.45
-25.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.55โฌ2.17
$2.87โฌ2.45
-11.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76โฌ2.35
$2.98โฌ2.54
-7.38%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12โฌ1.81
$1.41โฌ1.20
50.35%
Onion(1kg)
$2.13โฌ1.82
$1.46โฌ1.25
45.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.38โฌ1.18
$1.50โฌ1.28
-8.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97โฌ0.83
$0.76โฌ0.65
27.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.11โฌ6.07
$5.70โฌ4.86
24.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.10โฌ6.91
$5.30โฌ4.52
52.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38โฌ1.18
$2.09โฌ1.78
-33.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16โฌ1.84
$2.07โฌ1.77
4.35%
๐ Getting Around
Madrid
Calella
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.69โฌ1.44
$2.82โฌ2.41
-40.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.75โฌ41.59
$33.93โฌ28.94
43.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.16โฌ3.55
$4.01โฌ3.42
3.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.32โฌ1.12
$2.09โฌ1.79
-36.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.53โฌ24.34
$22.15โฌ18.90
28.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.92โฌ1.64
$1.57โฌ1.34
22.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8Kโฌ32.3K
$37.6Kโฌ32.1K
0.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3Kโฌ28.4K
$30.3Kโฌ25.9K
9.79%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Calella
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188โฌ161
$119โฌ102
58.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.76โฌ18.56
$20.44โฌ17.43
6.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.31โฌ30.12
$36.87โฌ31.45
-4.23%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Calella
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8โฌ45.05
$46.00โฌ39.24
14.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.10โฌ15.44
$17.09โฌ14.57
5.91%
Cinema Ticket
$11.60โฌ9.89
$9.25โฌ7.89
25.41%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Madrid
Calella
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$677โฌ578
$322โฌ275
110.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.1Kโฌ10.3K
$7,056โฌ6,019
71.78%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Calella
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.9โฌ80.9
$94.9โฌ81.0
-0.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.98โฌ35.81
$34.59โฌ29.50
21.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104โฌ89.0
$77.4โฌ66.0
34.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135โฌ115
$102โฌ87.0
32.53%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Calella
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,578โฌ1,346
$647โฌ552
143.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,115โฌ951
$442โฌ377
152.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,765โฌ2,359
$1,318โฌ1,125
109.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,879โฌ1,603
$1,019โฌ869
84.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,202โฌ7,849
$3,154โฌ2,690
191.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,488โฌ3,829
$2,648โฌ2,259
69.49%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Calella
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,586โฌ2,206
$1,640โฌ1,399
57.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.43
3.75
-8.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Madrid: April 20, 2026
Last update for Calella: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $1,578 in Madrid versus $647 in Calella. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 58% higher in Madrid, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $68 in Madrid versus $35 in Calella. Groceries tell a different story โ $295 in Madrid vs $297 in Calella โ so Madrid wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Madrid vs Calella: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calella cheaper than Madrid?
Yes โ Madrid is pricier by about 68%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,398 per month in Madrid and $2,020 in Calella. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Calella, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 44% less in Calella. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $677 per month in Madrid and $322 in Calella. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Madrid or Calella?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Calella, where all-in costs run around $1,347, than in Madrid at $2,265. In Calella it covers expenses comfortably, while in Madrid it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Madrid or Calella more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Calella โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Madrid or Calella?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Calella. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Madrid makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.